Saturday, December 21

Author: Newsdesk

Woman | Women – Rowena Gander
NEWS

Woman | Women – Rowena Gander

A new stage production is fusing performance art and physical theatre to explore how lesbian relationships do not follow traditional societal expectations. Woman | Women is a physical and comedic show that takes an academic deep dive into the fast-paced nature of same sex relationships between women. The autumn tour also features pre-show discussions on sexuality and creativity in an open conversation format. The show, which will tour Ormskirk, Liverpool, and Prescot this November, is the brainchild of acclaimed international performance artist and academic, Rowena Gander. During each show Rowena will ambitiously find and navigate a new and featured duet (relationship) unique to each venue. The real time relationship questions links between pace, compatibility, attachment, ...
It’s A Wonderful Life – Old Fruit Jar Productions at Liverpool’s Royal Court and St George’s Hall
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It’s A Wonderful Life – Old Fruit Jar Productions at Liverpool’s Royal Court and St George’s Hall

Time and tide wait for no man – so the saying goes – and it’s almost time for the angels at Old Fruit Jar Productions to get their wings with their production of It’s A Wonderful Life scheduled to premiere at Liverpool’s Royal Court Studio on 19th November through to 30th November before transferring to St George’s Hall on 10th December through to 13th December. For those who don’t know the original, it’s Christmas Eve, Bedford Falls and George Bailey, a down-on-his-luck banker, believes life has left him behind. But when his guardian angel appears, George is astounded to witness what life could be like without all of the good deeds he’s done. Maybe life wouldn’t be as wonderful without him… It was a delight to catch up with the team at their recent rehearsals where Artistic Director...
RSC’s Multi-Award winning Matilda The Musical to begin Major New Tour of UK & Ireland in October 2025
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RSC’s Multi-Award winning Matilda The Musical to begin Major New Tour of UK & Ireland in October 2025

It was announced today (8th October 2024) that the Royal Shakespeare Company’s smash hit production of Matilda The Musical, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, will embark on its second major tour of the UK and Ireland in October 2025. The internationally renowned musical - which continues to play to packed houses in the West End at the Cambridge Theatre and has been seen by 12 million people across 100 cities around the world – will begin performances in Leicester on 6th October 2025. The show will celebrate its 15-year anniversary when it opens at Curve, Leicester in October 2025, before travelling to Bradford, Liverpool, Plymouth, Sunderland, Edinburgh and Manchester where it will run through March and April of 2026.  Further tour dates will be announced next year. Priorit...
A Thousand Splendid Suns shine on Leeds Playhouse
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A Thousand Splendid Suns shine on Leeds Playhouse

A new stage version of Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of the highlights of next year’s Spring/Summer season at Leeds Playhouse. The sequel to his bestselling book, The Kite Runner, is a tale of how love can grow and sustain the human spirit even during the bleakest of times under the oppressive Taliban. It opens in Birmingham ahead of transferring to the Quarry Theatre at Leeds Playhouse from 28th May – 14th June 2025 as part of a national tour.  Directed by former Birmingham Rep and Hampstead Theatre Artistic Director Roxana Silbert, the production is set in 1992 in an Afghanistan ravaged by war. Orphaned Laila is left alone in an increasingly threatening world, but her older neighbour Rasheed is quick to open his home to take Laila as his second wife. ...
Riddles and Romance – Underbelly Boulevard
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Riddles and Romance – Underbelly Boulevard

For one night only, a cast of musical theatre and singing stars presented a concert of works by composer, Clive Richard Davis.  Davis debuted his work, At Last, It's Summer, at the London Palladium in 2023 and this new concert included songs from that show, a musical comedy set in July 1920 on an English country estate, telling the tale of young love, as Alice falls for a handsome stranger. He, it turns out, is a nobleman fleeing the upheaval of the Russian Civil War. Alice has to persuade her father to allow the unlikely match.  Her father then too succumbs to love at first sight.  Woven in between these songs of romance, the performance showcases compositions from Davis's new musical theatre project, currently in development, The Three Riddles, in which a young man must solve thr...
A Night at the Opera – Flat Pack Music Gala Concert
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A Night at the Opera – Flat Pack Music Gala Concert

Hot on the heels of their currently touring production of an English libretto version of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Flat Pack Music will be re-assembling for A Night at the Opera at Chester Cathedral on Saturday 12th October. Chester Cathedral is many things to many people: a vibrant community of worship, an ancient abbey, an archaeological treasure, a cultural hub, a centre of musical excellence and a unique blend of medieval and modern history. A Night at the Opera promises to add another layer with this magical musical journey which will create memories to be cherished for years to come. Featuring L’orchestra dell’Arte, conducted by Edward Peak, and joined by Mersey Wave Choir and the Runcorn Community Chorus, there will also be several professional soloists making up th...
Full Casting Announced for Ghost the Concert
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Full Casting Announced for Ghost the Concert

Full casting has been announced for the special one-off concert performance of Ghost the Musical as it makes its return to the West End at the Adelphi Theatre on the 1st October. Lovers Sam and Molly find themselves in danger walking back to their apartment one night, leaving Sam tragically murdered and trapped between this world and the next. Unable to leave Molly and worried about the ongoing peril she now faces, Sam attempts to communicate with her through the help of dubious psychic Oda Mae Brown. Joining the previously announced Lucie Jones and Oliver Tompsett as Molly and Sam respectively are Moya Angela (Ghost Broadway, Dreamgirls, Lion King and Newsies) as Oda Mae Brown and David Seadon Young (An American in Paris) as Carl Bruner. Returning to the Ghost family, Lisa Da...
West End and The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle will lead the cast in the UK premiere of the musical Fly More Than You Fall
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West End and The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle will lead the cast in the UK premiere of the musical Fly More Than You Fall

Tony nominated Broadway star Keala Settle is to lead the cast in the UK premiere of the new US musical Fly More Than You Fall at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 18th October- 23rd November. Based on lived experiences the uplifting and inspiring show navigates grief with some incredible songs that are bound to get stuck in your head! This isn’t just a musical, it’s a journey that will break your heart and mend it all in one night. Keala achieved global fame as the bearded lady Lettie Lutz in the film The Greatest Showman. Her moving rendition of the anthem ‘This is Me’ was a standout song in the movie, going on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a video on YouTube has now been watched 82m times. Sh...
Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong is coming to the Playhouse
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Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong is coming to the Playhouse

Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss, Birdsong, returns to the stage in a brand-new production for 2024 at the Liverpool Playhouse from Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th October. Featuring award-winning actor Max Bowden (EastEnders), this production marks the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel.   The critically acclaimed show, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and directed by Original Theatre’s Artistic Director, Alastair Whatley, tells the story of one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War.     Max Bowden (EastEnders) who plays Jack Firebrace said:  “I’m so excited to be collaborating with Original Theatre again on a project close to my heart. Birdsong highlights the tragedy of war, yet the...
Meet the Essex Girls Who Changed the World
NEWS

Meet the Essex Girls Who Changed the World

Morley Amateur Operatic Society returns to the stage this month marking their 97th year treading the boards. After the success of their last summer show, ‘My Fair Lady’, they are fast forwarding in time to the swinging sixties. Prepare to be captivated by the incredible story of the Essex girls who sparked a revolution! Inspired by true events, ‘Made in Dagenham’ follows Rita O’Grady as she leads a group of fearless women in a battle for equality at the Ford factory. As tensions rise and sacrifices are made, watch Rita’s determination and courage ignite a movement that changes history. Don't miss this empowering tale of resilience, solidarity and triumph! This show contains language and references considered appropriate for the time. Recommended age 12+ (bad language) 18th- 21...